TAMPA, Fla. -- In the wide-open early stages of the NHL season, goals, shots and scoring chances are aplenty.

Both Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper and St. Louis bench boss Mike Yeo would like to see their respective teams cut down on those type of chances despite their early-season success in the win column.

The Lightning (3-1-0) are among the highest scoring teams in the league to start the season, reaching the four-goal mark in each game to this point.

But Tampa Bay has also given up 3.75 goals per game, tied for seventh most in the league in the opening week. The Lightning are also allowing 37.5 shots per game, third most in the league, having permitted 40-or-more twice in the opening four games.

"There are still some areas we'd like to clean up," said Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who scored his first goal of the season on Thursday against Pittsburgh. "Still too many goals against."

While Cooper indicated after a 5-4 victory against the Penguins that he didn't have many issues with how the team played, he knows the goals against have to be cut down on moving forward. But with how the team is playing to this point and the victories that are following, Cooper will continue to work with his team on clamping down defensively moving forward.

"I didn't mind our game," Cooper said after defeating Pittsburgh. "A majority of our chances that we gave up were given up on the power play, so 5-on-5 we're doing fine."

For Yeo and the Blues (4-1-0), who started the season with a four-game winning streak before falling at Florida on Thursday, they have had the same sort of trend in the opening five games of the season.

St. Louis enters Saturday allowing 37.2 shots per game, fourth highest average in the league. If not for the strong play of goaltenders Jake Allen and Carter Hutton, who have combined for a .939 save percentage, the strong record the Blues have to start the season might not be as strong as St. Louis has a goal differential of plus-2.

"We have to be sharper," Yeo told The Athletic St. Louis after the loss to Florida.

The goaltending and offense had covered up a lot of those defensive breakdowns in the opening four games, but got the Blues exposed in the first loss of the season. The Panthers scored five goals while the Blues were unable to capitalize on their power play, which generated 17 shots on goal, as they close out a six-game road trip at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

"For me, we've got a chance to have a really good trip or a so-so trip," Yeo told the St. Louis Dispatch. "The next one is a big one. It's always going to be about how we respond. We talk about missed chances, but we gave up five goals."

The Blues, who remain without right wing Alex Steen but could return when the Blues head home on Wednesday, made one roster move on Friday. They sent rookie forward Tage Thompson to San Antonio of the American Hockey League and recalled forward Sammy Blais.

Author:

glen a richter [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 11:10 am ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Excited to see Blais get a shot, Thompson just isn't physically ready yet. Meanwhile Blais has really bulked up. I think he was drafted at 165 and he weighs in just over 200 now. Give him the minutes and the linemates and he should produce.

Author:

gaijin [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 1:03 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

I'll be watching this one from Section 317. Hopefully I don't get my ass kicked or beer poured on my jersey.

Author:

glen a richter [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:21 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Schwartz-Schenn-Blais. I like the sound of that line tonight, calling Blais to have a goal and an assist in his debut.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:40 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

I don't understand why Thorburn is playing in all these games.

Dunn made a good defensive play and blocked shot.

Blais looking like he belongs. No rookie jitters.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:42 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Blues on The Power Play! Let's score!

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:44 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Blais has looked good on his PP shift!

But The Blues couldn't score.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:52 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Nice play, Schwartz setting up Blais in front of the net. Schwartz drove deep and dropped it back to the trailing Blais in the slot, who moved forward for the good close-in shot. Blais looks good in the O-Zone.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:58 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Much better 1st Period by The Blues than that of The Panthers' game. The Blues are ready to play this one. It'll be a tough game. But, at least they'll have a chance to win this one.

Author:

glen a richter [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:58 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

All I can do is listen, but it sounds like Blais is doing real well. Hopefully when Steen returns, some other slouch can get demoted and we keep the guys who can actually score.

That said, anyone have a video feed? The free preview of Center Ice is done. Also, chatzy??? Not this season?

Author:

glen a richter [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:11 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

On a whim, because I thought I was right and wanted to check, I did a quick wiki on Brett Hull and confirmed that he was indeed a 5'10" 6th round pick... just like Blais. Not saying anything but hey, good company.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:21 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Great save by Allan! Preserves the 0-0 tie!

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:24 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Blues back on the power play again! Let's take the lead!

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:30 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

The "Too many men" was on The Blues - Boo! And, of course, The Lightning score!

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:36 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Blues need to score on this power play!

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:37 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Great to see Blais on both of The Blues' power plays! He's taken some nice shots, too.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:45 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Once again, The Blues are getting killed in the faceoff circle, winning only 40%. This has been happening all season so far. And, it's not because Steen, Berglund and Fabbri are out. This has got to change.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:53 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Why did The NHL changed the way they call automatic icing??? Now, if you lob it, and it rolls slow as molassas, and the defenceman pretending to skate back for it, skates slow as molassas, and it somehow barely makes it slowly to the goal line, the refs call it icing. They used to wave it off, claiming that the D-man could have played it. Now it's an icing every time.

Author:

Robb_K [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:58 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

The Blues need to score early in The 3rd. Tough game. It would be tough to lose on that lucky pass/shot through The Blues' D-Man's legs, which screened Allan and banked off the other Blues' D-Man's leg.

Author:

glen a richter [ Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:03 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: GDT Game 6: 10/14/17 | 6:00 PM CT | @ Lightning | FSMW/K

Calling it now... Blais scores within the first 3 minutes of the 3rd.

Also, I didn't realize the S was silent in his name. The more you know.